The National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) recognized the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR) as an Awarding Body (Dual). The recognition is important because it allows NIRD&PR to award, assess, and certify learners for approved qualifications that are directly taught in its own campuses or fully managed training centres.
The agreement was signed on 21 July 2026. The recognition broadens the certification role of NIRD&PR, which is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Rural Development, and places it within the wider national skill-certification framework overseen by NCVET.
What changed now
Earlier, NIRD&PR functioned mainly as a training and capacity-building institution for rural development and Panchayati Raj. After the NCVET recognition, NIRD&PR can also act as an Awarding Body (Dual) for approved qualifications that it directly delivers, so training and certification can be integrated within the same institutional framework for selected courses.
The initial rollout already includes the Industrial General Pest Management Technician qualification and a micro-credential on Generation and Mobilisation of Own Source Revenue by Panchayats, both submitted by NIRD&PR and approved by NCVET.
Institutional background
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